day : 07/11/2012 12 results

7:26 PM: After months of meetings and revisions, the Seattle School Board has just unanimously approved the project list for the $695 million BEX IV levy they will send to voters in February, including expanding and renovating Fairmount Park Elementary to reopen in 2014, building a new Schmitz Park Elementary on the Genesee Hill site to open in 2015, and building a new Arbor Heights Elementary to open in 2018.

There were no amendments proposed before the vote but the list that passed (see it here) included the extra language we have reported here in the past few days – clarifying that the current Schmitz Park Elementary will be kept open as a school (either neighborhood or option, said assistant superintendent Pegi McEvoy tonight) and that the district will rebuild AH sooner if it can figure out a way. The levy will go to voters February 12th, as will the district operations levy also finalized tonight; between the two, they’re asking voters for $1.2 billion, acknowledged board president Michael DeBell, saying, “This is a bold package. We’re asking for a lot of money.” Tonight’s public speakers, pre-vote, included Vicki Schmitz Block and son Dietrich Schmitz, thanking the board for responding to the family’s request that the current school, on a site their family donated to the district decades ago, remain in operation as a school.

ADDED 8:10 PM: The district’s official news release, ahead:Read More

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Update: Police search for assault suspect wraps up

November 7, 2012 5:40 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

5:40 PM: Thanks for all the tips – we’re on our way to check out a police search in the 36th/Graham/Raymond vicinity. Police are looking for a suspect linked to a car in which, according to the scanner, a gun was found. More info as we get it.

5:45 PM: It’s a search for an assault suspect, according to Southwest Precinct Capt. Steve Paulsen, who confirms a gun has been found. Per the scanner, police have blocked off an extensive area for containment and a K-9 team is expected to be part of the search. Scanner traffic also indicates this is linked to an incident that happened yesterday.

6:11 PM: Police are reported to have a suspect in custody. (added) Capt. Paulsen says this is related to a road-rage case in which the suspect was reported to have pointed a gun at the victim.

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Metro Route 120-related work starts next week at 26th/Barton

November 7, 2012 5:22 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Along the Metro Route 120 corridor, work has been under way to boost the busy route’s efficiency, and the county says another round will start in about a week:

King County Metro Transit launches another round of construction in West Seattle next week, focusing on improvements that will help pedestrians and bus riders for Route 120 – one of Metro’s top 10 busiest routes.

Up to eight weeks of work are planned starting as soon as November 13 at the intersection of Southwest Barton Street and 26th Avenue Southwest just south of Westwood Village.

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BULLETIN: Whole Foods confirms its new West Seattle plan – anchor tenant for 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW megaproject

November 7, 2012 3:19 pm

| 94 COMMENTS

| 4755 Fauntleroy | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(4755 Fauntleroy Way rendering, looking toward corner of Alaska/40th; store would wrap around this corner & run along Alaska)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:19 PM: Whole Foods Market has confirmed a new West Seattle location – right across SW Alaska from the spot where it once planned to open. Here’s the news release we just received:

Whole Foods Market – the world’s leading organic and natural foods supermarket – announced plans to open its seventh Puget Sound store location in West Seattle. The 41,000–square-foot store will be located within a mixed-use project at the intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Alaska Street. The store is scheduled to open in 2015.

The West Seattle store opening will create 150 new jobs throughout Seattle. Whole Foods Market has been ranked for the past 15 consecutive years as Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”

“We’ve long wanted to be part of the West Seattle community and we’re grateful to all the residents who have reached out to support our efforts,” said Joe Rogoff, president, Whole Foods Market, Pacific Northwest Region. “Creating jobs, supporting local producers and lending a hand to area schools and non-profits are core to our philosophy and practices, and we’re eager to share this with West Seattle. And of course we’re thrilled to be expanding the selection of natural and organic food, sustainable seafood, humanely raised meats and housemade prepared foods and bakery items to the community.”

Whole Foods Market announced signing a lease with Weingarten Realty for West Seattle during its quarterly earnings call on November 7, 2012.

Robert Smith, Senior Vice President of Development and Acquisitions for Weingarten, commented, “We are extremely excited about this project which will be a signature property at the gateway intersection to the Junction area of West Seattle. Weingarten, Lennar and Whole Foods Market are substantial companies that are working intently together with the City to design a functionally well integrated project that is appealing to its customers and a positive reflection of the community. We believe this project fits the vision and objectives developed by the community and the City in their recently adopted Triangle Plan for this commercial intersection. This is an important project for us and reflects the growing trend toward more dense, urban, mixed use projects, desired by many metropolitan areas like Seattle.”

Once complete, Whole Foods Market will provide local shoppers with a wide selection of high quality natural, organic and local products. The company’s quality standards are outlined online at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

ADDED 3:33 PM: We’ve just talked by phone with Lance Sherwood from Weingarten, who notes that the project still is in early development stages – it goes to its second Early Design Guidance meeting before the Southwest Design Review Board tomorrow night (at 8 pm – after the 4724 California review), a process that then will be followed by permitting as well as completion of financing and purchase before construction begins.

Whole Foods backstory: It was originally set as anchor tenant for what was Fauntleroy Place, announced in 2006 but stalled in 2008. While that project (which has NO link to this one) went through court battles in the ensuing two years, WF eventually announced in 2010 that its lease for FP was no longer valid, saying at the time that it was still seeking a West Seattle location. The former Fauntleroy Place, by the way, was sold at foreclosure auction last year, to Madison Development, which has filed plans with the city to develop it as Spruce West Seattle, with the former supermarket space instead changed to a fitness center that, according to the artwork with the filed plans, is expected to be an L.A. Fitness branch.

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Election 2012: Marriage-equality Referendum 74 passes, county readies for marriage-license issuing

November 7, 2012 3:18 pm

| 35 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB photos by Nick Adams, from last night’s OutWest Bar election-night party)
After a long night of result-checking, even before the 2nd round of King County results is announced today, it’s clear that marriage equality will be the law of the land in our state: Referendum 74‘s passage is being celebrated. And King County Executive Dow Constantine just issued a statement saying the county’s ready to start issuing marriage licenses at the first possible moment:

“Marriage equality is now the law of the land in Washington State, thanks to voters who have made our state, Maryland, and Maine, the first in the nation to recognize this civil right at the ballot box. We can all be proud that our state is on the right side of history.

“This is a journey that started back in 1971, when Faygele Ben-Miriam and Paul Barwick were denied a marriage license by King County. Faygele did not live to see this day, but I think he would be proud of what we’ve accomplished.

“I want to thank all the legislative leaders for their tenacity in keeping the issue in front of the state Legislature. I have one of the pens Governor Gregoire used to sign the marriage equality bill into law, and I look forward to using that same pen to personally issue the first marriage license to a same-sex couple in King County on the first day the law goes into effect, December 6.

We expect large numbers of applicants for marriage licenses in those first few days, so our King County Recorder’s Office will be open for extended hours for the issuance of marriage licenses on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 6 and 7, and even on Saturday, Dec. 8.

At West Seattle’s OutWest Bar last night, WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams photographed a few of the people it will directly affect, like Michale Farrar and Nathan Adams, who have been together for three years and say they will marry next summer:

And Teri Gawne and Kristin Baron, who say they too plan to marry:

The champagne was already flowing last night, courtesy of OutWest owners and staff:

Washington was one of four states where voters were considering marriage-equality measures last night – and as of this afternoon, the pro-equality side won in all four: Maryland voters said yes to marriage equality, with Question 6 passing; so did Maine voters, approving Question 1; and Minnesota voters defeated an anti-equality measure. Meantime, we’ll add the newest Washington vote totals here when they come out later today/tonight.

4:27 PM UPDATE: King County Elections is not expecting the next round of numbers to be out until about 6:30 pm due to some equipment problems. Meantime, the R-74 victory is being celebrated at the Washington United for Marriage campaign headquarters – County Councilmember Joe McDermott sent this cameraphone photo of himself and fellow West Seattleite Anne Levinson during the celebration:

7:15 PM UPDATE: The margin after the latest ballot counts were added remains 52-48.

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First-ever alumni basketball games ahead for Chief Sealth Int’l HS

November 7, 2012 3:04 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The night after Thanksgiving – in other words, two weeks from Friday – Chief Sealth International High School plans its first-ever alumni basketball games. And the school is looking for more alums to be part of the big event. Here’s the announcement shared by athletic director Sam Reed:

– November 23, 2012 will be the date for the inaugural Chief Sealth alumni basketball game. In what hopes to become an annual event, the Nels Enquist Alumni Basketball Game will feature a number of former Seahawks in celebrating the school’s rich basketball history.

Both a men’s and women’s game is scheduled for that Friday evening at the Chief Sealth International High School gym, and will be played in succession with the traditional intersquad scrimmage for the current boys and girls teams that kicks off their respective seasons.

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New views of 4724 California before Design Review tomorrow

November 7, 2012 1:59 pm

| 19 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

(Street-level view of 4724 California, along its namesake street)
Two major Junction-area developments go back to the Southwest Design Review Board tomorrow night, as first reported here last month. Last week, we showed you key points from the “packet” available online for 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW, which will have its second round of Early Design Guidance tomorrow. Now, we have new renderings for the project whose review will start the night, 4724 California (also known as the “ex-Petco” building). We talked about it with project rep Rob O’Dea, who says that while there’s a packet online for this project too, architects were still working on updates and what’s shown online may not reflect everything you see tomorrow night. It includes two views of the “passthrough” along the building’s north side – this one from California, looking toward the alley, with the apartment building’s entrance to the right:

Toward the right side of the rendering, the project’s lobby no longer will have a “grand staircase” to the second floor – access to the live-work units up there will be more utilitarian; the staircase would have taken lobby space out of commission -. Meantime, here’s the passthrough looking from the alley toward California:

O’Dea says the project team has continued to work on suggestions from community members, in conversations since the first Design Review meeting as well as since. There’s one “departure” – digression from what’s allowed by zoning – they plan to ask for. It would enable the project to have a “staging zone” for moving trucks fully enclosed on the lower level, with an entry off the alley, so that moving trucks wouldn’t block the alley. That would not, he says, enable the sort of curved parking-garage entry that was suggested at the first meeting – a straight-on parking-garage entry, which is the type that Mural has right across the alley, would be required, to facilitate the staging area and a utility zone between it and the garage entry. Also to be described/shown tomorrow night, proposed materials for the project, including some, O’Dea says, that are more expensive than originally envisioned, since the owners plan to hold this building for the long term.

Whether you have something to say about this project, about 4755 Fauntleroy Way, or about both, public comment is welcomed at tomorrow’s meeting, which starts with the 4724 California review at 6:30, moving to 4755 Fauntleroy Way at 8 pm. The meeting location is upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle, California/Oregon.

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Roxhill Castle ’99 percent done’: See what the community built!

November 7, 2012 12:45 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

After five days of hard work by volunteers – with lots of community support, from food donations to West Seattle Tool Library tools – only finishing touches remain at Roxhill Castle, the new play structure in Roxhill Park, right next to where a skatespot is under construction. Volunteer coordinator Mat McBride tells WSB some site cleanup remains, and “one last punch-list work party” will be scheduled.

A few volunteers, plus a rep from Seattle Parks, are on site again today. They described it as 99 percent complete. McBride says they’re also planning to create a “Friends Of …” group for the playground, so be on the lookout for that.

In this video mentioned in WSB comments on an earlier story, he mentions how he got involved – someone commented on a WSB report during playground-design meetings that no kids had been there to offer their opinion. So he brought his. And the rest was history – to be enjoyed by the generations of kids ahead who will play on the new Roxhill Castle.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Gas line cut in Fauntleroy

November 7, 2012 10:57 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
10:57 AM: Fire crews are working right now between Fauntleroy Schoolhouse/Church and the Endolyne business district, because a work crew is reported to have cut a gas line at California SW/Brace Point Drive (map). They’ve called in police for traffic control – this is a major route between 35th SW and the ferry dock, too. No injuries reported, and Puget Sound Energy is reported to be on the way.

11:16 AM UPDATE: On the west side of this situation, traffic is blocked at 45th/Wildwood – and that’s affecting at least one Metro bus.

We’re checking on where it’s stopped on the east side. But again, don’t head west on Barton from 35th SW till this is cleared up, if you’re expecting to head to Fauntleroy Church/Y/Schoolhouse, the ferry terminal, or Endolyne businesses.

11:26 AM UPDATE: On the east side of the area where the line was cut, the road is blocked at 42nd/Barton.

12:03 PM UPDATE: Per a comment, pedestrians and cars are “being slowly let through.”

12:11 PM UPDATE: Per the scanner, PSE has turned off the gas, so the Seattle Fire units are clearing. And if you hear/see a helicopter, it’s a TV chopper checking out the scene.

5:29 PM UPDATE: Buses apparently still are not being allowed through, and there’s no update on when that will end.

6:57 PM UPDATE: The bus reroute has just ended, according to Metro.

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West Seattle Wednesday: School levy; Explorer West & Kennedy open houses; marijuana zoning; USO benefit; more

November 7, 2012 10:41 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Great blue heron, photographed by Russ Walker, shared via the WSB Flickr pool)
Highlights for today/tonight:

ELECTION RESULTS: The next major update will be in the 4 pm hour today, when King County Elections will add another big batch of ballots to its totals. We’ll publish an update when that happens, and we’ll keep an eye on the major statewide races during the day in case any new totals emerge sooner. Our roundup of key races/issues is here.

SCHOOL BOARD’S BEX IV LEVY VOTE: The final vote on the $695 million plan that will go to voters next February is scheduled for the meeting that starts at 4:15 pm today at district HQ in SODO. Here’s the agenda. Public comment starts at 5; the BEX vote likely won’t be till after 6.

USO FUNDRAISER AT MERRILL GARDENS-WEST SEATTLE: 6 pm tonight, dinner, auction, and dancing to the Big Band sounds of Route 66 – all at Merrill Gardens-West Seattle (4611 35th SW; WSB sponsor). Tickets only $10; more info here.

DANCING AT THE SENIOR CENTER: Dance with Joe Ross and the Haggis Brothers Band, 6 pm tonight, Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).

EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30 tonight, Explorer West (WSB sponsor) welcomes prospective new families to tour the school, starting with a presentation at 6:30 pm (10015 28th Avenue SW).

KENNEDY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Also at 6:30 tonight, the major chance this fall for prospective students and families to learn about Kennedy HS (WSB sponsor) – full details on their website (140 S. 140th, Burien).

INTERESTED IN A WEST SEATTLE CO-WORKING SPACE? 7 pm tonight at Uptown Espresso in The Junction, the co-founders of the in-the-works WS Office Junction co-working space are having another meet-and-greet meeting. Here’s our story from Monday. If you’re interested, please RSVP.

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL PTSA: All welcome to tonight’s meeting at 7 pm in the school library. Here are the details:

Please come to this important PTSA meeting. Christina Ruzzine, science teacher and WSHS activities director and Kris Green, YMCA after school activities coordinator will speak about the opportunities that WSHS offers for student leadership and enrichment, including ways to earn service learning hours. Get a school update from Principal Ruth Medsker and learn about a fabulous new resource for finding scholarships! It’s also a great time to drop off last minute auction donations.

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL TALKS MARIJUANA: As previewed in this WSB story, two City Councilmembers are scheduled to talk about the medical-marijuana-zoning proposal at SWDC’s monthly meeting tonight. Is it a moot point in light of the marijuana-legalization vote statewide? Be there to find out, 7 pm at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) board room (6000 16th SW).

‘LEND ME A TENOR’ AT WSHS: You have just a few more chances to see the West Seattle High School fall production, “Lend Me a Tenor” – starting tonight at 7:30 pm in the school theater. Details on the Westside Drama website.

More for tonight and beyond, on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar!

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West Seattle Crime (etc.) Watch: Car theft; police rescue dog

November 7, 2012 8:28 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Two notes this morning – one a crime, one something else that police handled overnight. First, from Chessa:

Our car was stolen in front of our house in Seaview (45th AVE between Juneau and Findlay) sometime between 10 pm and 6 am last night. It is a 1995 light brown (mocha?) Subaru Legacy wagon, license plate 704 YBN, WA plates. There’s a 2008 Obama-Biden on the left upper rear window corner, with some rust spots on the roof. We did, of course, file a police report. If any of your readers see it, we’d love to know!

Police ask that you call 911 if you spot a stolen car. Second note is not about a crime, but its appearance on SPD’s “Tweets by Beat” feed led one alarmed WSB’er to ask about it. Here’s the tweet:

Beat:W1, ANIMALS – INJURED, DEAD, DANGEROUS at W SEATTLE BR / DELRIDGE WY SW reported on 11/7/2012 5:42 AM

— SeattlePD William1 (@SeattlePDW1) November 7, 2012

This actually involved a case of police rescuing a lost dog, according to e-mail we received overnight from the dog’s owner, Betsy, who said her Siberian Husky broke out very early this morning but is home now:

Apparently she had made it from our house near Mount St. Vincent all the way to the high rise of the West Seattle Bridge. We are SO thankful for the Seattle police and a dog savvy citizen who was able to corral and catch her. We got a call from Officer Graham at about 5:30am while we were out combing the streets. He and his partner said they were both dog lovers and we are very, very thankful for everyone’s help. She immediately went to sleep when she got home.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-election Wednesday edition

November 7, 2012 6:34 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:34 AM: The morning commute is under way without anything unusual. Remember that we keep this story updated if anything notable happens at ANY point during the day – last night a crash backed up the evening commute home on the West Seattle Bridge, and the daily roundup is where we made note of it. Thanks for your ongoing participation with updates, too!

8:42 AM: Just got a text that a car has crashed into a pole at 35th/Avalon and “cars are backing up.” We’re headed that way to check, since the 911 log doesn’t list anything (which could mean no one’s hurt, or that no one’s been dispatched yet).

9:04 AM: The crash has been cleared – the car that hit the curb/pole managed to drive, with a flat tire, into the Taco Time lot so its driver (and other witnesses, it appeared) could talk with police. No traffic effects.

11:02 AM: The main route between 35th and Fauntleroy Church/Schoolhouse/Y, the ferry terminal, and the Endolyne business district is blocked right now because of a gas leak – details here.

4:05 PM: According to a text from Metro (rider alert, not a media announcement), the incident at California/Brace Point is still affecting buses – specifically Rapid Ride C Line and Sound Transit 560. The alert says “To downtown, use stops WB Roxbury/35th SW or WB Wildwood/45th. To Westwood Village, use stops EB 45th/Barton or EB Barton/35th.”

5:10 PM: Metro says it expects that reroute to last a while. Meantime, Washington State Ferries’ Chelan is out of service, and the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is down to 2 boats. Here’s the 2-boat schedule.

7:01 PM: The Fauntleroy bus rerouting mentioned above is over, and everything’s back on regular run. Also, the ferry route is back to 3 boats.

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